Poultry Worker Tested Positive for Avian Flu

An Italian poultry worker tested positive for avian influenza following outbreaks among birds and farms in the Northern Emilia Romagna region, according to Reuters.

Italian authorities have been rejecting thousands of birds since they discovered an H7N7 strain on several farms last month.

These outbreaks were reported as the first outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Italian poultry since the year 2000.

The affected man who was exposed to sick poultry during his work in contaminated areas contacted conjunctivitis as a result of his infection.

The Ministry said that the H7N7 strain can be passed only to humans who come into direct contact with diseased animals and usually has mild effects on humans such as conjunctivitis.

They confirmed that human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.

As of late, four locations have tested positive for the outbreaks in influenza among poultry. This includes two an egg production farm, totaling a population of nearly 70,000 laying hens.

Authorities have already set up protection and surveillance zones around affected areas, which include movement restrictions on poultry and poultry products and ongoing veterinary checks, Reuters reported.